Rough rounding machines



Oct. ll, 1955 H. J. wlLLMoTT ROUGH ROUNDING MACHINES Filed March 19, 1953 lf2 [38 9 [06 92 1216 98 :"0 13 e6 116 i; j 0 30 C@ M0 0' 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 11, "1955 H. J. WILLMOTT 2,719,990

ROUGH ROUNDING MACHINES Filed March 19, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IZZ Oct. ll, 1955 H, J, W|| MOTT 2,719,99

ROUGH ROUNDING MACHINES Filed March 19, 1953 5 Sheets-Shes?l 3 Oct. 11, 1955 H. J. w|| LMoTT 2,719,990

ROUGH ROUNDING MACHINES Filed March 19, 1953 5 SheeS-Sheet 4 Bl i 212165./

Oct. 11, 1955 H. J. wxLLMoTT 2,719,990'

ROUGH ROUNDING MACHINES Filed March 19, 1953 5 Sheelis-SheeI 5 United States Patent O ROUGH` ROUNDING `MACHINES .Herbert J. Willmott, Beverly,`Mass., assignor to United `Sl1oe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a cor- -porationof New Jersey Application March. 19, 1953,.Serial No. 343,395

.14 Claims. (Cl. 12-85) iThis: inventionrelates -tomachinesfor rough rounding .shoes, and `is illustrated herein as embodied in improved .means,;of "the fluid-operatedtype, for variably positioning" the work ina rough; rounding machine relatively to i the. operatingftool. in order to 'obtain the desired. sole edge :extension .'As is well `understoodinithis art, a common type of dough-rounding. machine, such asthat` disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,030,606, granted June 25, 19l12, .uponan .application of Perry, has a forepart lgage'Lwhich isused to position the shoe by engagement Ivvithdthe side of the upper while its forepart is being .roundedand `a crease `guide which is received in the :creaserbetween the upper and sole edge and is used, inastead oft-the' forepart gage, when the sole edge is trimmed ateach Aiside `of the shank. Connections are provided between the gage and guide` for causing each to be moved, iintercha-ngeablyiwith the other, into and out of its operlative position. The change from one gaging memberto the other is made twice in rounding each shoe, in the 'vicinity of the ball line, once at itsinner sideand once -vat`fits outer side. These changes are made not only at ftimesselected by the operator butalso at different rates ldetermined by'the manner in -whichhe operates a treadle.

Usuallyythe change -at-the inner side of the shoe is `maderather abruptly, andthe change at the outer side of -the\`shoe isma'dequite gradually. Moreover, it may be Idesir-able to vary materially the rate of both the abrupt 1*and the-gradual changes `according to the style or size lofftheshoe. AOne provision for'making these abrupt and 4Vgradualchanges at the desired time and in the desired se- 'quence is yfound in a `rounding machine disclosed in lUnited `States Letters Patent No. 2,480,828, granted i*Stgpteniberf' 1949,upon an application `of C. W. Baker. lHowever, each of `such changes can be effected in .this machine at only one speed, rather than at the varying speeds desirable foroperating upon the usual wide variety o`fsl1`oes.,

Inanotherrough rounding machine, disclosed in United StatesLetters"`Patent`No. 2,386,383, granted October 9, 19145,'uponan application ofL. H. Cushman, there has .been providediiuid-operated gaging mechanism operable `in synchronism with the feeding movement of the work "for determining the` solexedge extension.

` This `mechanism `produces one predetermined sole eX- tension pattern without requiring the exercise of any judgment on the part of the operator; but it is not capable o"f readily `accommodating the usual wide range of sizes t.andstyles of shoes to be operated upon.

In view of the foregoing, an object of. the invention is --to provide .a simple and effective .operating mechanism ,for operatingthe forepart gage and crease guide in :a -rough rounding machine `.which `will enable the i. machine to operate `with uniform results upon a'wide variety of .types of Work and with aminimum of attention from the loperator.

To this end, the invention provides id-operated CII ICC

gaging mechanisnn. including a forepart gage and acrease guide, which iscapable of? being actuated atany'desire'd time by the operator, as required by the style of the shoe, but `whichfupon being actuated, causesl the crea-sej guide and forepart 'gage to bemovedbetween their operative and inoperative positions at` controlled. speeds which are adjustable to suit the requirements of any style of work.

Because of certain practical reasons whicharewll understood in this art,the rough roundingopera'tionis `always begun at the insideof a right shoe and `at thegoutside` of aleft shoe. -`Moreover, with a viewtoobt'aining the greatest possible uniformity in the shoesof a'pair, it also is customary for the opera-tor to present right and left shoesalternately, by pairs, to the machine. In' view ofthe foregoing, invention is also `to be recognizedi'n novel control means for causing successive' movements'of eitherthe forepart `gage or crease guideinto and out Vof its operative positionn'ot only to occur at diierentspeeds, as selected by the operator, but also to cause thesequence of these speeds to be inverted from-shoe to shoe. Thus, right and left shoes `may be presented alternately to the machine in accordance with the usual practice, and when they are so presented in the order appropriate for .the'machine timing, the forepart gage will be brought into its operative position at the inner ball line of theright shoe at the same relatively high speed at which it was retracted from the same point on theprecedinglet shoe. Similarly, the forepart gage will be moved into its operative position at or near the outer ball line of `the left shoe at Ythe same relatively slow speed at which it was movedout of its operative position in the vicinity of the outer ball line of the preceding right shoe. l

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofav rounding and channeling machine including an illustrative treadle actuated, fluid operated gaging mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. `2 is a side elevation, at an.enlarged scale, ofthe head of the machine;

Fig. `3 is an enlarged sectional side elevationillustrat'- ing certain details of the fluid-operated gaging mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view of aportion of the lluid operated gaging mechanism, the mechanism being set-.for a` left shoe, and the treadlebeing in its neutraltposition;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical view similar to Fig. -4..show ing the gaging operatingLmechanism settfor operatingupon a right shoe and with the treadle in its secondary operative position; and i Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view illustratingvarious stages in therough rounding operation as performed by the illustrated machine upon a pair of shoes.

There will rst be described features of theillustrated machine which are commonly found in rounding .machines of this type, butthese features willbe described inno greater detail than is necessary asa basisforanunderstanding of the structure provided by the invention tolbe referred to later.

A chopping knife.10 (Figs. l and 2) Vis fixed `to a.`slide 12 which is mounted for reciprocatory movement in the frame 13, as in the above-mentioned Perry machine, toward and away froma `feed point 14. The latter acts as an anvil and supports the work against thethrustof the`knife. The knife slide 12-is driven by mechanism comprising a lever 16, which is pivotally joinedsto a link 18, the latter also being pivotally connected to a slide 20 mounted to move horizontally in the frame 13. The slide is operated by connections including a roll 22 mounted upon the rear end ofthe slide 20, and a cam 24 which receives the roll and is formed ina fly wheel 26 iixed to a drive shaft`28.

A bottom rest 30, arranged to support a shoe to.be rounded by engagement with the tread surface of its sole, and the feed point 14 are oscillated to impart intermittent feed movements to the work from right to left. The feed point is thus driven from a cam 32, xed to the shaft 28, by lever and link connections, not shown. The bottom rest is oscillated by similar connections including a lever 34 (Fig. 2) carrying a roll 36 arranged to run in another cam 38, the latter also being xed to the shaft 28.

The mounting for the bottom rest includes a shaft which is mounted to rock and slide axially in the frame 13 and is urged forwardly of the machine, to cause the work to be held against the feed point 14, by connections comprising an arm 42 which is hinged at 44 upon the frame and is arranged to bear against the rounded rear end of the shaft 40. Rotatably mounted upon the arm 42 is a member 46, from the forward side of which there projects a pin 48 around which is hooked a spring 5t).

' There projects from the rear side of the member 46,

axially thereof, a stud 52 upon which is fixed an arm 54 which is adapted to be held in any of various positions relatively to the arm 42 by a spring-operated detent 56, as in the Lawson Patent No. 1,955,753, granted April 24, 1934, for a purpose to be described later. The lower end of the spring is hooked around a pin 5S which connects a link 60, hinged at 61 upon the frame 13, with another link 62. It will now be evident that, as the arm 54 is adjusted, the length of the spring 50 and hence its tension is varied. Thus, the pressure of the bottom rest 30 against the shoe can be varied at will.

Provision is also made for relieving the pressure of the bottom rest against the shoe during the return stroke of the bottom rest so as to avoid any back feeding tendency at this time. To this end, the link 62 is adjustably connected to the lower arm of a bell crank lever 64 fulcrumed on the frame 13, the upper arm of which lever carries a roll 66 arranged to run upon a cam 68 formed on the forward face of the fly wheel 26.

During the greater part of each revolution of the flywheel 26, the cam 68 holds the bell crank lever 64 at the extremity of its possible counterclockwise movement, holding the spring 50 under its higher tension. However, just before the retrograde movement of the bottom rest takes place, the cam 68 permits the bell crank 64 to swing clockwise, whereby the links 62 and 60 are raised and the stress in the spring 50 is considerably reduced, or removed therefrom. The amount of change in the tension in the spring 50 can be varied by adjusting the upper end of the link 62 along the slotted lower arm of the bell crank 64.

The bottom rest 30 may be retracted from the work by swinging rearwardly a lever 70 which is mounted to swing upon the frame 13 and is connected to the shaft 40 by the usual type of rack and pinion connections (not shown). A setscrew 72 threaded in the arm 70 is arranged to cooperate with a lug 74 on the frame to limit the forward movement of the arm and bottom rest. The lever 70, although it may be operated by the operator at any time, is operated automatically, by mechanism later to be described, to retract the bottom rest from the work at the end of each rounding operation, and to let the bottom rest move into engagement with the work at the beginning of each rounding operation. This mechanism acts upon a vertical link 76, the upper end of which is slotted to receive ya stud 78 carried by one arm of a bell crank 80 which is rotatably mounted on the frame 13. The other arm of this bell crank has fixed thereto a pin 82 which is received in a slot in a link 84, the latter being pivoted at 86 to the lever .70. It will now be evident that by lowering the link 76, the lever 70 is swung rearwardly and the bottom rest is moved away from the feed point 14. Conversely, when the link is raised so that it exerts no downward pressure against the stud 78 the bottom rest is permitted to bear against the work with whatever pressure is set up by the above-mentioned spring 50.

The work is positioned, so as to determine the sole edge extension, by gaging members comprising a crease guide 88 and a forepart gage 9i). the construction and use of which is fully disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,482,092, granted September 20, 1949, upon an application of C. W. Baker. The forepart gage is carried by an arm 92 which is mounted to swing upon a shaft 94 fixed to the frame. A spring 96 stretched between the frame and the rear end of the arm yieldingly holds the forepart gage in its inoperative position. The forepart gage is moved into its operative position by connections comprising a link 98 which is pivoted at 100 to the arm 92 and at 102 to one arm of a bell crank 104 rotatably mounted on the frame 13. This arm of the bell crank is also connected by a link 106 to one arm of a bell crank 108, the other arm of which carries a swivel block 110 which receives a rod 112.

By the above described connections, the forepart gage 99 is moved into and out of its operative position (and the crease guide is moved out of and into its operative position) when the rod 112 is lowered and raised, respectively, by the novel mechanism to be described later. lt is to be understood that, when the machine is at rest, the crease guide 8S is normally in its operative position, and that it is moved out of this position when the forepart gage (normally in its inoperative position) is lowered into its operative position. Furthermore, the crease guide is returned to its original operative position simultaneously with the movement of the forepart gage into its inoperative position.

The crease guide is xed to a swinging arm 114, its upward movement being limited by a setscrew 116 threaded in the frame 13. The crease guide is operated synchronously with the forepart gage, as described above, in response to movement of the rod 112, by connections (not shown) at the left hand side of the machine which are the same as in the above-mentioned Perry machine.

The forepart gage 90 is mounted to rotate on a stud 136 carried by the arm 92, and may be releasably locked thereto by a latch 138 which is xed to a shaft 140 and is arranged to swing into and out of engagement with notches in the forepart gage, in the manner fully described in the above-mentioned Baker patent. The gage comprises a central segment, and at each side thereof a lateral segment or wing the work engaging surface of which ordinarily is eccentric with respect to the stud 136. The eccentric wing portions of the gage roll on the shoe, to vary the sole edge extension, while the rounding cut is being made upon a portion of the outside edge of the shoe extending forwardly thereof from the ball line. It is in this area between c and d (Fig. 6) where, on the left shoe, the sole edge extension diminishes as they rounding cut proceeds forwardly of the shoe from the heel breast line; and in the corresponding location between p and q on the right shoe, the sole edge extension is gradually 4increased as the rounding cut is carried up to the outside ball line.

In the train of mechanism'for operating the latch 138 (Fig. 2) there is an arm 142 which is xed to the shaft 140 and carries a pin 144 which is received in the forward slotted end of a link 146. The rear end of this link is pivoted to one arm of a bell crank lever 148 which is rotatably mounted at 100 on the frame 13. To the other arm of the lever is pivoted a link 150, the lower end of which is pivoted to an arm 152, the latter being mounted to swing upon the frame and having connected to its forward end an operating rod 154. A spring 156 stretched between the arm 152 and the frame holds the above described linkage in its inoperative position, as determined by the engagement of a screw 157 with a shoulder at the end of a slot formed in the rear arm of the bell crank 148.

It will now be evident that downward movement of the rod 154 will cause the latch 138 to be lifted out of engagement with the forepart gage, permitting the latter to roll upon the shoe. The latch is thus operated oy the operator by pushing against a knee pad 156 (Figs. l and 3) iixed upon a rod 158 which projects forwardly through the base 160 of the machine. The rod 158 is nien` to `a member` 162 which nmountedfor parano movement upon one arm of' a bell crank164 and a link .166. The other arm of 'the bell crank is pivotally connectedto a` bar 168' in which the lower end of the rod 15.4" is adjustably clamped.

The above describedmovernents ofthe` forepart gage and crease guide 88 between their operative and inoperative positions are imparted thereto, at timesise- Iect'ed by the` operator, but at predetermined speedsby novel fluid-operated mechanism, next to be described, which is actuatedby a treadle 170 (Figi). During a complete roundingl operation upon each shoe, the treadle is movedprogressively from a neutralposition N (Figs. 4"and 5) through a primary operative position P into a secondary operative. position S, and thence back to the neutral position. through the primary operative position.

When the treadle 170` is in its neutral position the bottom rest 30 is held retracted from the feed point 14 (Fig, 1)', but upon movingthe treadle into the primary operative position P the bottom rest is released (Fig. 2), the shoe` is held; against the feed point and the feeding of" the work is begun at one side of the shank (Fig. `6) under the guidance of the crease guide 88. When the rounding` cut reaches` the forepartt and the control of the shoe is to be taken over by the forepart gage 9), the treadle is moved into thesecondary operative position Sand the treadleis held in this position throughout the time in whichthe forepart gage isused. When the rounding cut again passes into the shank portion of the shoe the treadle` is releasedinto its primary operative position P which causes` the crease guide to take over the control of theshoe from `the forepart gage. Finally, when the rounding cut is completed, thetreadle ist further released into its neutral position N, whereupon the bottom rest` is retracted from the work and the work mayV be` withdrawn from the machine.

The treadle` 170is mounted to swing upon a shaft I72` (Fig. `1) at the bottomiof the base 160 and isconnected` at its rear end to an extensible rod 173. This rod, at itsupper end, ispivoted to a slide 174` which is mountedto reciprocate vertically at the rear` of the base 160; A stud 176` (Fig 3) fixed to the slide limits the upper, and lower positions thereof by engagement with shoulders 178, 180, respectively, at the extremities of a slot inthe base` which is arranged toreceive the stud. Undenthe` influenceof a spring 182, whichacts` uponthe treadle`the` slide 174 is urged downwardly normally to hold the.stud`.176 against the shoulder 180, and at this time the treadle is in its neutral position N. The primary` operativeposition P ofthe treadle isindicated by the reception of a spring-pressed detent 184 (Fig. 3), whichismovable withina boss in the base 164i, within a,.notch 186l in theslide 174. Upon` further depression of` the treadle, thestud176` is moved into engagement with'the shoulder 178 `whereby the secondary operative position ofthe` slide174 is determined. When the treadle is lowered beyond` its primary operative position, the slide 174 meetswith yielding resistance provided by a spring, loaded plunger 188 which is arranged to yield vertically within a bore in thebase 160. This plunger facilitatesthe return of the treadle to the primary operative` position` since, upon moving into that position from the. secondary position, the plunger 18S will abruptly cease to exert pressure up'on the slide 174, which condition is readily discernible to the operator.

The upper end of the slide 174 is connected to a valve plunger 190 which is arranged to slide vertically within a casing192, thecasing and plunger constituting thefprincipal parts of a valve 194 (Figs. 4 and 5) for controlling the operation ofthe forepart gage 9i) and crease'` guide 88, as well as the movement ofthe bottom.

rest 30toward and away from the feed point.

The principal parts of the fluid system for operating the bottom rest and gaging mechanism comprise, in addition to the valve 194, a pump 196, a plunger 198 and cylinder 200`for retracting the bottom rest, a pairof relief valves 202, 204 which are adjustable to control the speed of movement of the forepart gage and crease guide` between their operative and inoperative positions, `a yselector valve `206 for determining the usage ofthe valves 202, 204, and setting mechanism 208 for setting the valve 296. With the machine at rest and the treadle (Fig,

76 (Fig. 2) which, whenlowered by the` plunger, causes` the lever 7i) to be moved rearwardly and the bottomrest 3G to be retracted from the feed point 14, as described above.

n the neutral setting of the valve 194 (Fig. 4)fluidV is directed from the ports 216 through a. pipe 224.to the, forward end of a cylinder 226 within ywhich a piston 228` is mounted to slide. The rear end of the cylinder is connected by a pipe 236 to another set of ports 232, 232` in the valve casing 192.

A rack 234 (Fig. 3) cut inthe piston 228meshes .with

a pinion 236 which is Xed to arotatable shaft 238 carrying apawl arm 240. A pawl 242 pivoted on this arm is arranged to engagea 4-toothedratchet244 which isl rotatably mounted upon the shaft 23.8 and is fixed toa cani 246. Upon the rear end of another arm247, which` also is fixed to the shaft 233 there` is pivoted the lower. end of the rod 112 of the above-.described mechanism for operatingthe forepart gage andcrease guide. The rod 112 is moved down and upto-imp'art movements to the forepart gage into and out of its operative position asthe` piston 228 moves forwardly andrearwardly, respectively, within the cylinder 226.

With the treadle 170 inits ineutral position N the operator may present to the machine a left shoe to be4 rounded, with the crease guide d8 ,received in thecrease between the upper and welt in the vicinity of the heel breast line at a (Fig. 6).` When the rounding operation` isto be started theoperator depresses the treadle into the primary operative position P, as determined by the,` engagement of the detent 184 within the notch 186 in the slide 174. A lobe243 (Fig. 4) on the plunger190j now cuts off` the transfer of fluid` pressure from the p'orts 21S, 21S to the pipe` 220, but exhaust fluiditlows` from.- the cylinder 200 through these passages and' out of, the,l lower end ofthe casing 192` into a sump in the base` 160, in response `to pressure ofthe spring222 upon the,-

plunger 198. The bottom rest Sitinow. yieldingly holds the shoe against the feed point14 andzthe` rounding operation upon theleft shoe is carriedL forwardly along theoutside shank under the guidance of the creaseguide. When, as the rounding cut reachesl the ball` line,` at b (Fig. 6) it is desired to use the forepart gage toposition` theshce, the treadle is moved tothe secondary operating position S, whereupon` the crease guide is gradually) raised, and the forepart gage is lowered into its op'erative position` by the time that the rounding cut is.carried to c.

With the treadle in this position, fluid pressure` is dif rected through the recess 214 (Fig. 5) of the plunger 19), through the ports 232, 232 and pipe 230` into` the-` rear end of the cylinder 226, whereby the pistonZZS.. is moved forwardly of the machine. As describedtabove such motion of the piston 228VV causes the rod 112i, and the forepart gage to be lowered.` The rate of this movement ofthe forepart gage istdeterrnined by controlling-` the exhaust of uid from the forward endV of the cylinder 226, in the following manner.

Exhaust fluid flowing from the pipe 224' is directed Fluid from the latter ports is directed` through the ports 216, 216 into another pipe 250 which enters ports 252, 252 in the upper part of the casing 192. A recess 254 in the plunger 190 now directs iluid from the ports 252, 252 through other ports 256, 256 and thence through a pipe 258 into the lower part of a casing 260 of the selector valve 206. Within the casing there is arranged to slide a plunger 262 (Fig. 4) having therein a recess 264 through which fluid now delivered from the pipe 258 is directed into the lower orifice of a port 266, in the casing 260, which communicates with the relief valve 204. Thus, according to the setting of the valve 204, which now determines the rate of exhaust from the forward end of the cylinder 226, the speed of the movement of the forepart gage into its operative position is controlled. The valve 204 will ordinarily be so adjusted, by turning a knob 268 (Figs. 1 and 3) at the front of the base 160, as .to cause the change in the control of the shoe from the crease guide to the forepart gage to occur gradually over a considerable lenth of rounding cut, such as that between b and c (Fig. 6).

When the forepart gage is moved into its operative position for guiding the left shoe, the gage is locked, by the latch 138, in its mid position upon the stud 136, so that the central portion of the gage is presented yto the shoe.

The valve plunger 262 is positioned as described above by the setting mechanism 208 including the above-mentioned cam 246 upon which rolls a follower 270 (Fig. 3) mounted upon the lower end of a slide 272. The slide is mounted to reciprocate vertically in a bearing 274 fixed to the base 160, and by means of pin and slot connections 276 is connected to an arm 278 which is mounted to swing in a vertical plane upon a bearing 280 fixed to the base. Movement of this arm shifts a signal 282 for indicating to the operator for which shoe of a pair the gaging mechanism is set. The signal has the legends L and R (Figs. 4 and 5) thereon, one or the other of which can be seen through a window 284 (Fig. 1) in the base 160. The signal is fixed to the upper end of a rod 286, the lower end of which is connected by a block 288 to another rod 290 which is pivoted to the arm 278. A spring 292 compressed between the base 160 and the block 288 urges the above-described assembly downwardly, and causes the follower 270 to be held in contact with the cam 246. With the parts in their positions shown in Fig. 4 the legend L on the signal appears through the window, indicating that the machine is set for operating upon a left shoe.

The above-described movement of the forepart gage 90 into its operative position, which occurs with the downward swinging of the arms 240 and 247, has no effect upon the cam 246 because the pawl 242 is swung idly with respect to the ratchet 244 into engagement with the next tooth thereof.

At whatever point, at or somewhat beyond the outside ball line as at c (Fig. 6), it is desired to begin the reduction in the sole edge extension on the left shoe, the operator will depress the knee pad 156 which causes the latch 138 to be released from the forepart gage 90. Thereupon, the shoe rolls upon the gage from its central portion toward the outer extremity of its right-hand lateral portion, or wing, until the rounding cut progresses to the point where 4the minimum sole edge extension occurs at d (Fig. 6). At this time, the gage will have been rotated to its extreme left-hand position and, throughout the remainder of the rounding of the forepart, until the inner ball line is reached at e (Fig. 6), the shoe slides against the right-hand lateral portion of the forepart gage, the gage thus being held in its extreme left-hand position.

Now, at the inner ball line of lthe left shoe the control of the shoe is to be given to the crease guide, and the operator allows the treadle to yrise into the primary operative position P. With this setting of .the valve plunger 190, fluid pressure is delivered again through the pipe 224 against the forward end of the piston 228, causing it to be moved rearwardly of the machine, and the forepart gage to be raised. As soon as the forepart gage moves out of contact with the shoe, the gage is immediately swung counter-clockwise upon the stud 136, by the means and in the manner described in the abovementioned Baker patent, into its extreme right-hand position upon the arm 92, in which position the gage is locked by the latch 138 in readiness for .the succeeding rounding operation upon the right shoe.

The pawl 242 now drives the ratchet 244 and the cam 246 through one-quarter of a revolution, at the end of which the ratchet and cam are locked in their new positions against retrograde movement by a spring-pressed pawl 302 (Fig. 3) which is rotatably mounted upon a bracket 304 projecting from one side of the cylinder 226.

These movements of the piston and gage occur relatively rapidly, while the rounding cut progresses from e to f (Fig. 6), under the control of the exhaust ow of fluid from the rear end of lthe cylinder. kThis exhaust fluid -ows from the pipe 230 (Fig. 4) through the ports 232`and a recess 233 in the plunger 262 into other ports 294 which are connected by a pipe 296 to the valve casing 260. Fluid delivered from the pipe 296 passes through a recess 298 in the valve plunger 262 and thence into the upper orifice of a port 300 in the casing 260 which communicates with the relief valve 202. This valve is set by turning another knob 301, like the above-mentioned knob 268, at the front of the machine so as to permit that relatively rapid flow of fluid appropriate for the desired abrupt movement of the crease guide, between e and f (Fig. 6), into its operative position at the inner ball line of the shoe.

During the greater part of this rearward movement of the piston 228 the cam 246, in its counterclockwise movement, presents a concentric portion of its periphery to the follower 270 and throughout this period the valve plunger 262 is stationary. However, just as the piston 228 reaches the end of its rearward stroke the high portion of the cam moves away from the follower, which now drops onto theflow portion of the cam. Consequently, .the plunger 262 is lowered into the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 5, whereby the setting of the selector valve 206 is reversed. Upon completing the rounding cut on the inside shank of the left shoe at g (Fig. 6) the operator releases the treadle into the neutral position which causes the bottom rest to be retracted from the shoe and permits the shoe to be freely withdrawn from the machine.

The rounding operation on the right shoe is begun at its inner side near the heel breast line at m (Fig. 6). After the shoe at this point has been placed against the crease guide, the treadle is lowered into the primary operative position P, causing the shoe to be gripped be tween the bottom rest and the feed point, and the feeding movement to begin. When the rounding cut reaches the inner ball line at n, where the control of the shoe is to be taken over by the forepart gage, the operator lowers the treadle into the secondary operative position S again putting the valve plunger 190 in its position illustrated in Fig. 5, Fluid pressure is again led through the pipe 230 into the rear end of the cylinder 226, causing the piston 228 to move forwardly of the machine and the forepart gage to be quickly lowered at `o (Fig. 6) into its operative position. During this forward movement of the piston 228, exhaust uid from the forward end of the cylinder passes through the pipe 224,`

ports 216, 216, pipe 250, ports 252, 252, ports 256, 256, and pipe 258 into the valve casing 260 from which, now that the plunger 262 is in its lower position, the fluid is directed through the lower orifice of the port 300 into the relief valve 202. As this valve permits a relatively rapid ow of exhaust uid, the control of the shoe is changed from the crease guide to the forepart gage withl in the control oftheshoefrom the f'orepart gage to'thef crease` guide is begun by releasingtheA treadle into its primary operative `position PL The `valve plunger 190 will now direct fluid pressure through the pipe 224 into the forwardendfofthe cylinder 226whereby 'thepiston 228 is'moved rearwardly;` While the guide is thus being movedinto` its operative position and the rounding cut approaches r, the forepart gage isrmovedinto its inoperativer position.` Thetspeed of Ithis change is controlled bytheilowfofexhaust i'luid from the rearend of"the` cylinder 226 through the pipee2`3`0, the ports` 232, 232, ports294i, 294,- and pipe 296.` From this pipe, Huid is delivered into `therecess 298` which, with the plunger 262` inits lowerposition, opens into the upper oriee of the port 266 leading to the relief'valve20'4. As this valve i`s` set-to allow a relatively slowow of uid, the change in the control of the shoe fromthe forepart gage to the crease guide at the outer side of theright shoe is made gradually, as is desired.` Moreover, during the'latterportion ofthe upward movement of the forepart gage the cam 246isagainrotated through a quarter-revolution, the greater part of which movement does not have any effect upon the valve plunger 262, because the concentric low portion ofthe cam' is presented to the follower 270.` However, just before the end of this movement of the cam, a high portion of. thelatter-istmoved beneathttheafollower causing the valveplungertto bereturned to4 its original upper position,` as illustrated in Fig. 4, in readiness for the succeeding rounding operation upona left shoe. Upon completing the rounding cut at the shank of the right shoe, thettreadle isuagain'treleased`to the neutral position N, in order to permit the shoe to be freely withdrawn from the machine.

A cycle of operation of the illustrated machine has been described above as beginning with a left shoe and ending with a right shoe. However, a cycle may as well be considered as beginning with a right shoe and ending with a left shoe, if the rough rounding operator prefers to pick up the shoes in that order. It is necessary merely that right and left shoes be operated upon alternately, in order to take advantage of the automatic mechanism for controlling the speed with which the gaging members are moved into and out of their operating positions, and that when the use of the machine is begun, a right or left shoe is rst presented to the machine as directed by the signal 282.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a sole rounding machine, a rounding cutter, a pair of gaging members movable alternately into engagement with a shoe to position it relatively to the cutter thereby to determine the sole edge extension, driving means for thus moving said gaging members to transfer the control of the shoe from one gaging member to the other, fluid-operated mechanism for controlling the speed of operation of said driving means, and an operator controlled member for actuating said driving means, said Huid-operated mechanism cooperating with said driving means and said operator controlled member to limit successive movements of each gaging member in the same direction to diierent speeds.

2. In a sole rounding machine, a rounding cutter, a pair of gaging members movable alternately into engagementzwith a" shoe toV positionit relatively to the cutter thereby `to` determine the sole edgeextensiorn fluidoperated driving means for thus Amoving Asaidv gaging members, operator controlled means for'initiating` the op-` eration of` said driving means, and control means operatedbysaidl driving meansand cooperating with said operator controlled means to cause successive movements of each` gaging'memberinto engagement with the shoe to occur at different-speeds- 3. In a sole rounding` machine, a rounding cutter,` gaging memberscomprising a forepart gage and crease guide movable alternately'into, engagement with a shoe to position it relatively to the cutter, power operated means for operating `said gagingmembers, fluid-operated mechanism for limiting the speed of` movement of each of saidgaging memberstto different `selected speeds, and' control meansoperated by saidl power operated means. during every `othercycle thereof "foninverting the order of said speeds.

4. In atsole rounding machine, a .rounding cutter, gaging` members comprising a forepart' gage and crease guidemovable alternately into engagement with a shoe to4 position it relatively toV the cutter, iluid pressure operatedmeans formovingsaiclV gage and guide at different selectedspeedsintotheiroperative positions, andA mechanism for inverting the order ofsaid speeds in s'ttccessivecycles of operation of themachine.

5.' In a sole` roundingmachine, a rounding cutter, gaging members comprising a forepart gage and crease guide movable alternatelyinto engagement with a shoeto positionI itl relatively' to the cutter, power operated means for moving said gage and guide into their operative positions,` and huid-operated' mechanism cooperating with said means tocause said gage andl guide to be moved' into their operative positions at different selectedspeeds, said mechanism` being constructed and arranged to` invertthe orderof said speeds in successive cycles of operation iof the machine.

6l In a sole rounding machine; a rounding cutter, gagingfmembers comprising `a forepart' gage and crease guide'- movable alternatel'yfinto engagement with a shoe to position it relatively to` the` cutter, power operated means for moving said gage and `guide into' their operative positions, and fluid-operated mechanism for causing said power operated means to move said gage and guide into their operative positions at different selected speeds, said mechanism comprising a pair of valves which are adjustable to vary each of said speeds at will.

7. In a sole rounding machine, a rounding cutter, a gage for positioning a shoe presented to said cutter, uidoperated means comprising a plunger for moving said gage into and out of operative position, a iluid pressure system comprising an operator controlled valve movable into either of two operative positions whereby fluid pressure is applied selectively against either end of said plunger, said valve also being arranged to direct exhaust iluid away from the other end of said plunger, a pair of exhaust valves, and a selector valve between said operator controlled valve and said exhaust valves, said selector valve being movable between two operative positions to conduct the exhaust uid to one or the other of said exhaust valves.

8. In a sole rounding machine, a rounding cutter, a gage for positioning a shoe held thereagainst, fluid-operated means comprising a reciprocatory plunger for moving said gage between an operative and an inoperative position, a fluid pressure system arranged to apply uid pressure against one end of said plunger and simultaneously to exhaust fluid away from the other end of said plunger, a pair of exhaust valves, and means for directing successive discharges of exhaust fluid from the said end of said plunger to said exhaust valves alternately.

9. In a sole rounding machine, a rounding cutter, a gage for positioning a shoe held thereagainst, fluid-operated means comprising a reciprocatory plunger for 11 moving said gage between operative and inoperative positions, a fluid pressure system for applying uid pressure `to either end of said plunger, a pair of exhaust valves, and means for conducting every second discharge from each end of said plunger into the same one of` saidy yexhaust valves and the intervening discharges into the other exhaust valve.

10. In asole rounding machine, a rounding cutter, a gage for positioning a shoe presented to said cutter, a Huid-operated reciprocatory plunger for moving said gage into and out of operative position, a iiuid pressure system comprising a selector valve movable between two operative positions, a pair of exhausty valves to which uid is selectively conducted by said selector valve, a control valve for directing uid to either end of said plunger and venting fluid from its other end to said selector valve, and means for reversing the position of said selector valve in response to each stroke of said plunger in one direction only.

1l. In a sole rounding machine, a rounding cutter, a'

gagefor positioning a shoe presented to said cutter, fluid. operated means comprising `a plunger movable through opposite advance and return strokes for moving said gage into and out of operative position respectively, a uid pressure system for controlling said means comprising a pair of exhaust valves, a selector valve for conducting uid selectively to one or the other of said exhaust valves, a control valve for directing fluid to either end of said plunger and venting the other end of said plunger to said selector valve, and means operated by each return stroke of said plunger for reversing saii selector valve.

l2. In a sole rounding machine, a rounding cutter, a gage for positioning a shoe presented to said cutter, Huid-operated means comprising a plunger mounted to reciprocate within a cylinder for moving said gage into and out of its operative position, an operator controlled control valve, a selector valve, uid conducting connections extending from said selector valve and said cylinder to said control valve, said control valve being constructed and arranged to direct fluid under pressure to one end of said cylinder and to vent the other end of said cylinder into said selector valve, a pair of exhaust valves to 13. In a sole rounding machine, a rounding cutter, a gage for positioning a shoe presented to said cutter,

Huid-operated means for moving said gage into and out of its operative position, said means comprising a plunger mounted to reciprocate within a cylinder having a uid holding chamber in each end thereof, a fluid pressureA system comprising an operator controlled valve for direct' ing fluid under pressure to one of said chambers and for conducting exhaust uid from the other chamber, a pair of exhaust valves, and a selector valve movable between two operative positions for directing exhaust uid into one or the other of said exhaust valves, and means operated by said plunger for shifting said selector valve at the end of each cycle of operation of said plunger.

14. In a sole rounding machine, a rounding cutter, a gage for positioning a shoe presented to said cutter, uidoperated means comprising a plunger for moving said gage into and out of operative position, a uid pressure system comprising an operator controlled valve movable into either of two operative positions whereby uid pressure is applied selectively against either end of said plunger, said valve also being arranged to direct exhaust fluid away from the other end of said plunger, a pair of exhaust valves, and a selector valve movable between two operative positions during movement of said plunger in one direction for conducting the exhaust iluid from each end of said plunger to said exhaust valves alternately.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,271,615 Bauer Feb. 3, 1942 2,324,509 Jorgensen July 20, 1943 2,386,383 Cushman Oct. 9, 1945 2,435,026 Barnes Ian. 27, 1948 2,480,828 Baker Sept. 6, 1949 2,565,600 Esterline Aug. 28, 1951 

